Winter Solstice
Awake before nights
wintery blanket unveils the earth, I snuggle deeper into warmth, listening to
the purring of comforting fluff buried deep within the curve of my unmoving
body. I ignore the urging voice of
Savior, rise up , you’re going to miss it, and disturb purring ball of fur,
readjusting in hopes of a few more Saturday morning winks, before submitting my
feet to cold stained oak.
Christmas tree on,
coffee brewing, and furry criers fed, I sit waiting on the cinnamon Christmas
brew. Picking up my portable encyclopedia, I google, Winter Solstice.
The Winter Solstice, also known
as midwinter, occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away
from the sun.
Grabbing a blanket, I
unlock the door and walk into the night with visible breath, I look to the sky.
Almost too bright to look directly into with sleepy eyes, the moon floats in
dark navy with dancing attributes scattered about. Hugging the blanket tight, I
walk to a space unhindered by man’s power and gaze…. How, I ask, do you shine
so brightly when today you are as far as the East is to the West from the sun?
Your light, is but a reflection of the might of the sun, yet on the longest
night, your reflective light shines bright into the dark.
I stand as long as the
cold allows, listening to night stalk the trees, air and ground. Sounds of
darkness whisper around, yet I feel no fear, only joyful peace fills my soul as
I thank my Savior for rising me from slumber. Walking toward the warmth of
walls, my mind becomes pen……..
Through our longest
night, when hope is lost and prayers mislaid, are we not like the Solstice
moon? Perceived tilted far from the listening ears of our Savior? Yet, it is in
this moment, we hold fast to every voice of hope written in scripture. We go
deep into the Word, searching for God in the storm, and with each passing hour
our reflection of the Son grows stronger, a beacon of testimony to
others……
Consider it pure joy, my brothers
and sisters, whenever you face trials of many (various) kinds, because you know
that the testing of faith produces perseverance.
James 1: 2-3
On what feels like the
shortest light filled day, when darkness is long and you ache for the warmth of
the risen Son, remember the reflective moon, shinning bright on the longest of
nights….far from its source of light, persevering in the coldest of winter
nights.
Never forget my
friends, the passage to your longest darkness is the beginning of lengthened
days in the sun……………..
Father, I thank you
for the wakeup call this morning. I lift up my sisters and brothers as they
endure perseverance building trials.
